Colorado Rockies at Boston Red Sox

These teams each lost two of three in their first interleague series of 2019. However, Boston's 16-4 interleague record last season was the best in MLB, while Colorado's 13-7 mark tied for third in MLB.

Boston swept Seattle and scored 34 runs over the three games, the most by any team in any three-game series this season. The Red Sox had a team .354 OBP in the series, the third-highest mark by any team in a series this season.

The Rockies have scored at least 10 runs five times in May, most in MLB. Their .304 team batting average this month ranks second in MLB (Astros, .308), and their 82 runs scored are fewer than only the Astros (86) and the Red Sox (86).

Charlie Blackmon leads MLB with 11 extra-base hits this month, while teammate Nolan Arenado's .452 batting average also leads MLB this month (minimum 10 PA). The duo has combined for 35 hits in May, fewer than only Houston's George Springer and Yuli Gurriel (37) among MLB duos.

Kyle Freeland has a career 1.95 ERA in interleague games, the lowest mark in Rockies franchise history (minimum 50 IP). The only active pitchers to make as many interleague starts as Freeland and have a lower career ERA are Luis Severino (1.46), Blake Snell (1.47) and Garrett Richards (1.52).

Rafael Devers has 20 hits in May, second in MLB (George Springer, 21). He's had three consecutive three-hit games entering today, one of seven MLB players with three straight this season -- no player has had four straight three-hit games in 2019. Nolan Arenado is the only other to do so in May (May 1-3).

Chances are the Colorado Rockies aren't excited about their first trip to Fenway Park since 2016.

Not with the way the Boston Red Sox are playing.

The resurgent defending World Series champions, riding a season-best, five-game winning streak, host the Rockies for a two-game series beginning Tuesday.

The Red Sox haven't just been beating opponents -- they've been pummeling them. Boston has won 11 of its past 13 games, outscoring the opposition 100-37 in that time. The team moved successfully past a rough start -- 2-8 through 10 games, 6-13 through 19 games.

"We knew we could get to this point," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "It was just a bad stretch."

Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland (2-5, 5.84 ERA) draws the unenviable task of trying to cool Boston's bats. The Red Sox will send ace southpaw Chris Sale (1-5, 4.50) to the mound, and he too might have his work cut out for him.

Boston, fresh off a three-game sweep in which it outscored the Seattle Mariners 34-8, led the majors with 86 runs scored in 11 games this month (through the Sunday games). Just behind was Colorado with 82 in 10 contests.

While the Red Sox are 9-2 in May, though, the Rockies come in 6-4 after taking two of three from the San Diego Padres over the weekend. As good as their offense has been, their pitching has been equally poor, with a major-league-worst 7.10 ERA this month.

"I feel like we're doing a pretty good job right now, especially offensively," said Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who hit two home runs against the Padres on Sunday. "I feel like we've had some good outings, maybe rough breaks here and there for our guys. But we're competing really well."

Freeland allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in five innings his last time out, getting a no-decision in a 12-11 win over the San Francisco Giants. He will face Boston for the first time in his career.

On the other side, the Red Sox's 2.78 ERA as a staff this month ranked sixth in the majors through the weekend. Key to their success has been Sale's rebound from a porous start.

Mired in a career-worst slump to begin the season, Sale has a 1.73 ERA in his past four outings. This month, he's struck out 24 in 14 innings, including 14 in his latest start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Sale has issued just one walk in May.

He will make his first start against Colorado.

The Rockies kick off an eight-game road trip by returning to Boston for just the third time in the past decade. They are 4-7 all time at Fenway in regular-season play.

Pacing Colorado's offense this month has been third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the National League with a .452 average since the calendar turned to May. He has four home runs and 12 RBIs in his past 10 games.

Boston's third baseman, Rafael Devers, has also been red-hot, coming off three consecutive three-hit games against Seattle. Devers is hitting .426 in May, and he has 18 RBIs in his past 17 games.